Hot Cross Buns: Houston's 10 Best Bakeries

My friend Dr. Ricky has long said that there should be a comprehensive list of all the wonderful ethnic bakeries in town. I don't disagree, and in fact that's a list for another time.

Today, however, we're focusing on all the different forms and varieties of bakeries in Houston. And while that includes a few of the choice ethnic spots, we've also kept the list to bakeries that have permanent storefront locations, so you can swing by and grab a pandan waffle or marble rye for yourself.

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Props for including El Bolillo. We often stop there in the mornings to grab bolillos for sandwiches, serve with soups, etc. Our in house bakers are great but there's something magical about those light, airy but crispy and perfectly sized loaves!

How is it possible that you've forgotten Moellers? The amazing petit fours there are practically required by city charter to be at every baby and/or wedding shower in town. I don't want to know what's in that icing, but oh my goodness it's good.

All this talk of "the best" bakery misses the point of this roundup - which is the sheer diversity of what constitutes a bakery in Houston. Of course, we aren't so blessed, for example, with a place that specializes in pretzels or aebelskivers, but here are some gems for the later list:

1. ECK for egg custart tarts and more. 2. Phoenicia 3. Lee's baguettes4. the pie places and the cupcake places, much as I am not enamored of the latter5. more traditional Indian sweet shops6. A sweet factory7. Marine's for Colombian breads8. Honduran bake shops9. Venezuelan baking

Jungle Cafe WAS the gold standard years ago. Now their stuff is dried out and flavorless, and they face pretty keen competition from places like Six Ping, Yannick, and Toules Les Jours (sp?).

I, too, was a huge proponent of Jungle Cafe when they were at their old location. I've since tried to give them a chance multiple times, but they make me oh-so-very sad, from their product to their service. Just a shell of its former self.